Uptown Update: Last Minute Voting Information

This was posted at Uptown Update on Saturday. At this point two days away from Election Day and due to this pandemic we're in unprecedented times.

So unprecedented that a supersite will be set up at our very own United Center on Election Day on November 3, 2020. According to U.U.:

If you're waiting to vote on Election Day, which is Tuesday, November 3rd, you must do so at your precinct's polling place between 6am and 7pm. Or you can go to the United Center (1901 West Madison), which is a new thing, Election Day only.

Also noted you can still early vote until Monday, November 2, 2020 in all 50 wards throughout the city and the Loop Super Site at 191 N. Clark Street. I noted a few days ago the early voting site in Ward 9 with this flyer

 I also made sure to note that if you have mail-in ballots you can drop them off at various library locations throughout the city through Election Day. Here are some nearby locations where you can do so:

• Mount Greenwood Library, 11010 S. Kedzie Ave
  Sun., Closed; Mon. & Wed., 10-5; Tue. & Thu., Noon-7; Fri. & Sat., 10-5
• Woodson Regional Library, 9525 S. Halsted St
  Mon. - Thu., 9-8; Fri. & Sat., 9-5; Sun., 1-5
• West Pullman Library, 830 W. 119th St
  Sun., 1-5; Mon & Wed., Noon-7; Tue. & Thu., 10-5; Fri. & Sat., 10-5

Woodson Library is a very convenient location that is very accessible not only by car, also by public transit, however, I listed other nearby libraries where you can drop off your mail-in ballot. According to the Chicago Board of Elections you have until Nov 2, 2020 to drop them off at those early voting sites and at a drop off sites at a Chicago library.

Also on Election Day while polls are open from 6 AM to 7 PM you can also drop off your mail in ballot:

• ELECTION DAY ONLY - Nov. 3 - 6 am-7 pm
  United Center, 1901 W Madison
  Wrigley Field, Gallagher Way Gate outside the ball park, near Clark Street
  Guaranteed Rate Field, on Shields Avenue just north of 35th Street

This is how U.U. closed their elections posts using a quote from the late Congressman John Lewis: "The vote is precious. It's almost sacred, so go out and vote like you never voted before."

Set your clocks back one hour tonight

Saturday night you must turn your clocks backwards by 1 hour. We will lose an hour until March 14, 2021 when we will start this process all over again - and regain that hour.

83rd & Stewart Walmart is hiring

Check out this flyer found at Concerned Citizens of Chatham. There are jobs out there if anyone is looking.

Ward 9 Ald. Anthony Beale speaks on the proposed Chicago police budget

 

[VIDEO] There were calls earlier in the course of the past summer to defund CPD from some members of the city council. It seems in this latest news, those voices may well get what they want. However, Mayor Lori Lightfoot isn't asking for deeper cuts because as she puts it rightfully the police aren't our enemy.

You will see Ald. Anthony Beale speak on this in this video from CBS Chicago. He's actually with the Mayor and they're somewhat at odds to put it nicely on a lot of policies, however, he doesn't agree with deeper cuts either.

Regardless consider the fallout from the pandemic and the damage to the economy with people out of work and some businesses having to shut down as a result there are some very difficult decisions to be made. If you don't want these cuts, where will the money come from?

Political Forum with 9th Ward Ald. Anthony Beale

 

[VIDEO] I've been meaning to share this since getting the email blast from the Ald. Beale's office sharing the word on this. Ald. Beale has been a vocal opponent of Mayor Lori Lightfoot especially with the unrest going on in the city during our most tumultuous summer. You may have even seen him on FOX News in August and if you haven't here it is.

So here on this recent edition Beale talks about the financial issues facing the city during this pandemic and how he was able to prevent the looting of business in Ward 9.

Early voting started on Wednesday

We will have a different election than we had in our history so far. This is due to the ongoing pandemic as the rage for now is to vote by mail instead of voting in person or even waiting until Election Day and going to your local precinct which is what I plan to do.

On Oct. 14, 2020 early voting around the city has started. You can register and cast your ballot at designated locations within all 50 wards and at the Loop Super Site located at 191 N. Clark St. or at Clark/Lake.

The location for Ward 9

• Ward 9 - Curtis Elementary School,  32 E 115th St.

These are the operating hours for early voting until Election Day Nov. 3, 2020 for all sites throughout the city and at the Loop Super Site

• Early Voting sites in all 50 Wards - plus the Loop Super Site
  Monday-Friday - 8:30 am-7 pm
  Saturday-Sunday - 9 am-5 pm
  Election Day, Nov. 3 - 6 am-7 pm

Here's a notice from Ward09.com - Ald. Anthony Beale's constituent webpage about the early voting at Curtis Elementary on 115th Street

If you want more information check out the Chicago Board of Elections page on Early Voting.

CTA Red Line extension project #RLEReady #Ward09

[VIDEO] CTA has a new video out about the CTA Red Line extension that is still being planned that takes the Red Line further south into Roseland and Altgeld Gardens where the final destination is 130th Street. The next critical phase for this ambitious project is construction which is expected to cost $2.3 billion half of that would come from federal funding and the rest from non-federal funding i.e from the city of Chicago, state of Illinois and/or even CTA itself.

I like these renderings of the various stops on the southbound Red Line extensions.

CTA Dan Ryan 1969 grand opening brochures

 

[VIDEO] I enjoyed this look back at the L as it was over 51 years ago. The unveiling of then new bright shiny object on CTA. The line many riders might complain about over the years. One of the busiest on the system. Its been through many changes, but I wonder if this compares to it's grand opening.

Also artistmac made a quick shot at the fact that 50 years later the L still hadn't been extended further south since then. However, plans are in motion though most won't be happy until those plans are executed finally.

I look forward to the future grand opening of the Red Line extension.

Shedd School still serves its purpose

I remember many days spend in Shedd's cramped library. The books I remember checking out of the library under a man named Mr. Hackenbrock were mainly sports books - usually old books with black & white photographs underlying the sports of basketball, baseball, hockey or even boxing also a book showing how to draw animals. 

During our library period we also played computer games on IBM computers carted out into our gym/library. These were some fun interesting days.

What if I told on Shedd's lot there is a box full of books where you're allowed to leave a book and you can take a book. These types of book boxes exist throughout the city and its located on the playset on 99th Street. So adults and youth alike can come up to Shedd at anytime to entertain themselves or otherwise educate themselves outside of a classroom.

I snapped a few shots when dropping off books there. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Sixth Ward (@thesixthward) on Oct 9, 2020 at 8:14am PDT

There is no longer a cramped library inside the school since it's been closed but you can still pick up a book or leave a book by Shedd School (at 200 E. 99th Street) anytime.

Looking to contact the 9th Ward Alderman

Go to Ward09.com to get into touch with him. This site has no association with any public official especially 9th Ward Alderman Anthony Beale.

Thank you!